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A Secret Santa questionnaire is a short form each person fills in before names are drawn, so their gifter knows what they like and what to avoid. For an office Secret Santa questionnaire, keep it to 6 to 12 questions, make every question optional and never ask about health, money or clothing size. Build yours below, or print the free version.
Key takeaways
- Short beats long. A short Secret Santa questionnaire of six to twelve questions gets filled in. A page of forty does not.
- Ask about small, specific things. “What small thing would you enjoy using up this month?” works better than “What do you want for Christmas?”
- Grade your questions. Some are safe for any coworker. Some only suit a team that knows each other. Some should never be asked at work.
- Handle allergies with care. Ask what someone cannot have or would rather not receive, and never ask why.
- Keep the answers private. The organizer sees the forms. Each gifter sees only their own person.
- Make it optional. Nobody should be pressured to join or to explain a no.
Want something to print? The free printable Secret Santa pack has a short form, a standard form, index cards and a rules card. If you run Secret Santa every year, the Gift Exchange Kit adds themed forms, quick-pick cards and a name-draw sheet.
Build Your Secret Santa Questionnaire in a Minute
Pick your team type, choose how many questions you want and print the form or copy the questions into the survey tool you already use. The builder holds 134 questions in 19 themed groups, and nothing you type is stored.
Open the builder in its own full-size page
No email is needed to print or copy. If you would rather not use the builder, the sections below give you the questions to copy by hand.
Which Secret Santa Questionnaire Fits Your Team?
Every form below is a Secret Santa questionnaire template you can change, and each is a Secret Santa questionnaire for adults at work, so there is no kids’ version. If you run a work gift exchange, the Secret Santa questionnaire you pick should match the size and mood of your team.
| Your team | Start with | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| A whole office, mixed ages and roles | Standard office form | 10 |
| A new team that does not know each other yet | New team (safe questions only) | 8 |
| A small team that is close | Close team form | 12 |
| Remote or hybrid | Remote and hybrid form | 10 |
| 30 or more people | Large group form | 6 |
| Short on time | 5-minute form | 6 |
| School and staff-room teams | School staff form | 8 |
| Shift workers and frontline teams | Shift teams form | 8 |
| People who like a quiet, low-key exchange | Quiet and low-key form | 10 |
More forms are in the builder:
| Form | Best for |
|---|---|
| Foodie | People who love treats and drinks |
| Cozy and calm | Teams who like a slow, warm gift |
| Games and puzzles | Game-night and puzzle fans |
| Makers | Crafters, bakers and gardeners |
| Tech and the desk | Desk setup and gadgets |
| Readers and watchers | Book and screen people |
| Sports fans | Teams who follow a game |
| Eco-minded | Reusable and plain-packaging gifts |
| Funny but work-safe | Light-hearted teams |
Friends and family can use the friends and family form, which leaves out the desk questions.
Secret Santa Questions for Coworkers That Are Safe to Ask
A Secret Santa questionnaire for coworkers should start here. These are the Secret Santa questions to ask anyone at work, including someone you met last week. Each one has a gift clue, so you can see why it is worth asking. Pick 6 to 12, not all of them.
Tastes and treats
- How do you take your coffee or tea, or do you skip both? Gift clue: Tea, coffee or cocoa sampler, or a mug warmer; none: skip drinks.
- Sweet, salty or neither when you snack? Gift clue: Snack box for either taste; neither: a non-food gift.
- Is there any food or drink you cannot have, or would rather not receive? (You do not have to say why.) Gift clue: Safe food gifts, or no food at all.
- What small treat would you be happy to find on your desk? Gift clue: A treat sized for one person.
- Which would you pick first: fruit, chocolate, cookies, crackers or something else? Gift clue: Treat type.
- Do you like mild flavors or bold ones (spicy, sour, strong coffee)? Gift clue: Flavor strength.
Hobbies and downtime
- What do you like to do on a free Saturday? Gift clue: Puzzle, book light, coloring set, game.
- What would you do with one extra hour a day? Gift clue: Hobby starter, notebook set, puzzle.
- Is there a book, show or podcast you keep recommending? Gift clue: Book light, a related small item.
- Do you play any games (cards, board, puzzles, video)? Gift clue: Card game, puzzle.
- Do you grow, collect or make anything? Gift clue: Desk plant, small tool or supply.
- Is there a skill you are learning or want to learn? Gift clue: A starter item for it.
The desk and the day
- What small thing would make your workday easier? Gift clue: Desk accessory, charger stand, notebook.
- Do you work in the office, from home or both? Gift clue: Decides shipping and whether a desk item will be used.
- What do you use at your desk every day (mug, pens, notebook)? Gift clue: A better version of the thing they already use.
- Is your workspace usually warm or cold? Gift clue: Hand warmer, mug warmer, socks.
How they like to receive gifts
- Would you rather get something useful, fun or edible? Gift clue: Pick one direction and stay in it.
- Do you prefer something small to use up or something to keep? Gift clue: Consumable or keepsake.
- Do you like a surprise, or would you rather I choose from three ideas you wrote down? Gift clue: Fully secret or a short list.
- Which colors or styles do you like? Gift clue: Plain, bold, soft or neutral choices.
- Is there anything you would rather not receive? Gift clue: Your avoid list.
Cozy, calm and creative
- Do you like a quiet moment with something warm to drink? Gift clue: Warm-drink gift.
- Do you keep a blanket, slippers or a sweater at your desk? Gift clue: Cozy item.
- Would a small unscented self-care item be welcome (lip balm, hand cream, eye mask)? Gift clue: Unscented self-care.
- Do you like plants at your desk, and do they survive with you? Gift clue: Real or artificial plant.
- Do you like crafts, drawing or coloring? Gift clue: Craft or coloring set.
- Do you write or keep a journal? Gift clue: Notebook and pen.
- Would you rather finish a kit or make something from scratch? Gift clue: Kit or supplies.
- Do you like quick games or long ones? Gift clue: Game length.
- What puzzle size would you enjoy: small, medium or very large? Gift clue: Puzzle size.
Tech, remote and quiet teams
- Does your phone often run low during the day? Gift clue: Charger or stand.
- Is there a cable, stand or holder you wish you had? Gift clue: Exactly that item.
- Would you rather get a gift mailed or handed over on your next office day? Gift clue: Mail or hand-over.
- Are you happy to share a shipping address with the organizer only? Gift clue: Shipping yes or no.
- Would you rather open your gift in private or in front of the group? Gift clue: Reveal style.
- What helps you focus when it is noisy: headphones, tea, a plant or nothing? Gift clue: Focus helper.
Secret Santa Questions for Teams That Know Each Other Well
These are warmer and a little more personal, so use them only if people already chat about their weekends. If one person on the team might feel uncomfortable, use the safe questions instead.
- What is the best small gift you ever received? Gift clue: Shows their taste in one story.
- What would you love but never buy yourself? Gift clue: A small splurge.
- How do you relax after a hard week? Gift clue: Cozy, creative or active gift.
- What is an interest of yours most people here do not know about? Gift clue: Something that shows you listened.
- Which scents do you like, and are there any you avoid? Gift clue: Skip scented gifts if there is any ‘avoid’.
Questions to Leave Out of a Work Secret Santa Form
Some questions create more problems than they solve at work. Skip these, and tell participants they never have to answer anything they do not want to.
- Clothing and shoe sizes. Asking for sizes can feel personal and invites guesses about bodies. If someone wants clothing, offer one-size items like socks, scarves or hats and let them opt in.
- Health conditions, medication, weight or diets. Never ask why someone avoids a food. Ask only what they cannot have or would rather not receive.
- Money, salary or spending habits. It makes comparisons. Ask what they would love but never buy themselves instead.
- Relationship or family status. Not everyone has a partner or children, and gifts built on it can sting.
- Religion, politics or age. It puts people on the spot, and a gift built on it can read as an assumption or a joke.
- Home address, unless shipping is needed. Collect it privately, only from remote players, only for shipping, and delete it after the exchange.
- Alcohol. Many workplaces and people avoid it, and policies differ. Offer other drinks.
- ‘What do you want for Christmas?’. It gets shrugs. Ask about small, specific things instead (see the table).
Ask This, Not “What Do You Want for Christmas?”
Open questions about wants get shrugs. A specific, low-pressure question gets you something you can buy. If you also collect a Secret Santa wish list, ask for three small items, not one big one.
| Instead of | Ask |
|---|---|
| What do you want for Christmas? | What small thing would you enjoy using up this month? |
| What’s your size? | Would you like something wearable? If yes, pick: socks, scarf or hat (one size), or skip. |
| Do you drink? | Which would you enjoy: coffee, tea, hot cocoa, sparkling water or none? |
| What perfume do you wear? | Which scents do you like, and are there any you avoid? |
| Are you on a diet? | Is there any food or drink you cannot have or would rather not receive? |
| What do you spend your money on? | What would you love but never buy yourself? |
How to Ask About Allergies and Dietary Needs
A food gift is the most common Secret Santa gift and the easiest one to get wrong. Keep the process simple and respectful.
- Always include the Secret Santa allergy question, worded as: “Is there any food or drink you cannot have, or would rather not receive? You do not have to say why.”
- Never ask for a reason. The answer might be an allergy, a medical need, a religious practice or a taste. The gifter only needs the boundary.
- Treat any “yes” as a stop sign for food. If someone lists an allergy and you are not sure what is in a sampler, choose a non-food gift. Tea and snack boxes often list several ingredients, so read each listing.
- Send only the allergy line to the gifter if you want extra privacy, and keep the full form with the organizer.
- Never give homemade food. Sealed, labelled items let the person check for themselves.
- Skip scented gifts if anyone answers a scent question with something to avoid. Fragrance sensitivity is common, and some offices restrict candles and diffusers.
From Answer to Gift: What Each Answer Tells You
You have the answers. Now match the gift direction to the answer, then pick the item that fits your limit. The links go to Amazon as examples of each direction; they are not the only options. Prices and stock change, so check the listing, sort by price and read what is inside before you buy. We have not checked ingredients or allergens on any listing, so for food and drink gifts read the full label first.
| If they say | Gift direction | Example on Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| Tea, any kind | A tea sampler in a gift box | TAZO Tea Variety Sampler Gift Box |
| Tea, no caffeine | A caffeine-free sampler | Stash Herbal and Caffeine Free Tea Variety Pack |
| Coffee | A small-batch coffee sampler | Gourmet Coffee Sampler Gift Box Set |
| Warm drinks, sweet | A cocoa assortment (check allergens) | Cocoa Classics Hot Cocoa Gift Box |
| Snacks, sweet or salty | A single-serve variety box (check allergens) | Zisbers Snack Box Care Package |
| Cold desk | Keep a drink warm at the desk | KitchekShop Coffee Mug Warmer |
| Cold hands | A rechargeable hand warmer | Karecel Rechargeable Hand Warmer |
| Cozy, comfy | A boxed set of fuzzy socks (one size) | SISOSOCK Fuzzy Socks Gift Box |
| Puzzles | A 1000-piece puzzle | GERJATO 1000 Piece Puzzle, Lake Sunset |
| Games | An easy group card game | Bamboozled Bluffing Dice and Card Game |
| Reading | A clip-on book light | Merisky Rechargeable Book Light |
| Creative, calm | A coloring set with pencils | Adult Coloring Book Bundle with 50 Colored Pencils |
| Desk decor | Low-care desk plants | Der Rose Set of 4 Artificial Mini Succulents |
| Notes and planning | A notebook and pen set | A5 Lined Leather Notebook and Pen Set |
| Phone on the desk | A wireless charger stand | Dual 10W Wireless Charger Desk Stand |
| Drinks on the go | An insulated tumbler with straw | 30oz Insulated Tumbler with Handle and Flip Straw Lid |
Pick within your limit. Choose one fixed budget for the whole exchange, and say whether wrapping counts. A single useful item usually fits a small limit better than a big set, and sets are easier to share if the gift ends up in a kitchen or break room.
If your person left the form blank. These are Secret Santa gift ideas for someone you don’t know, with no food, no scent and no size:
- A notebook and pen set
- A boxed set of fuzzy socks (one size)
- A 1000-piece puzzle
- Low-care desk plants
- A mug warmer
- A clip-on book light
- A coloring set with pencils
- A rechargeable hand warmer
Three Filled-In Questionnaires and the Gifts They Point To
Real forms are short and a little messy. These examples show how to read them.
New hire (green questions only)
Their answers
- Tea, no coffee. Honey if possible.
- Salty snacks.
- Cannot have: tree nuts.
- Free Saturday: hiking.
- Cold desk: yes.
The gift: A tea sampler, but read every ingredient list for tree nuts before you buy, because we have not checked the example for allergens. Add a hand warmer. Skip the snack box (nut risk). Examples: TAZO Tea Variety Sampler Gift Box and Karecel Rechargeable Hand Warmer.
Remote colleague (green and one yellow)
Their answers
- Black coffee, from a French press.
- Puzzles, always.
- Home office, small desk.
- Would rather pick from a short list.
- Would love but never buy: a good mug warmer.
The gift: A coffee sampler and a mug warmer, shipped to the address they shared privately. Puzzles go on next year’s list. Examples: Gourmet Coffee Sampler Gift Box Set and KitchekShop Coffee Mug Warmer.
Long-time teammate (close-team questions)
Their answers
- Reads on the train.
- Guilty pleasure: baking shows.
- Relax: blanket and a book.
- Avoid: scented things.
- Prefers something to keep.
The gift: A clip-on book light and a boxed set of cozy socks. No candles, because of the avoid list. Examples: Merisky Rechargeable Book Light and SISOSOCK Fuzzy Socks Gift Box.
How to Organize Secret Santa at Work in Six Steps
These are the basic Secret Santa rules for work. Keep them in one short message so that nobody has to ask.
- Make it optional. Invite people to join. Nobody should be pressured, and nobody should have to explain a no.
- Pick one budget number. Use one fixed amount rather than a range. Say whether wrapping counts. Common workplace figures are somewhere between $10 and $30, so choose what your team can all afford.
- Send the questionnaire. Short is better: 6 to 12 questions. Collect answers privately (a form, or paper handed to one organizer).
- Draw the names. Draw out of a hat, with a draw tool, or in a spreadsheet. The organizer can see the pairs; everyone else sees only their own.
- Set the deadline. Give 3 to 4 weeks. For remote players ask for an address privately at least two weeks before, and use one-size gifts.
- Reveal. Reveal at a short gathering or by message. Keep it kind and short.
A simple timeline.
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| 4 weeks before | Invite people, set the budget, send the questionnaire |
| 3 weeks before | Collect answers, draw names, tell each person who they have |
| 2 weeks before | Remote addresses due, privately, to the organizer only |
| 1 week before | Reminder: bring or ship the gift |
| Exchange day | Reveal, short and kind |
The budget and timing advice here is common guidance in workplace gift guides, not research. Adjust it to your team.
Keep the Answers Private
A Secret Santa works because people trust it. Decide who sees what before you collect anything.
| Who | Sees |
|---|---|
| Organizer | All forms and the list of pairs |
| Each gifter | Only their own person’s answers |
| Everyone else | Nothing, including HR, unless HR is the organizer |
Collect answers through one private channel: a form that only you can open, a sheet only you can see, or paper handed to you. Do not post answers in a team chat. Delete the forms, and any addresses, after the exchange.
Secret Santa Questionnaire for Remote Teams and Hybrid Teams
Use the remote and hybrid form, then paste the questions into whichever survey tool your team already uses. If you want a Secret Santa Google Form, that works, and so does any other form tool, as long as the responses are visible only to the organizer. A Secret Santa form for work should never be posted in a team chat.
- Ask for the shipping address privately, only from people who need a gift mailed, at least two weeks ahead.
- Choose one-size gifts (a boxed set of socks, a tea sampler, a puzzle) so nobody has to share a size.
- Offer a digital option for people in places where shipping is slow or costly, and check your budget rules before you suggest gift cards (see the tax note below).
- Hold the reveal on a short call, or drop it and send each gift with a note. Quiet teams often prefer the second.
Secret Santa Forms for Large Groups, School Staff, Shift Teams and Quiet Teams
One form does not fit every workplace, so the builder has forms for these cases.
- Secret Santa for large groups (30 or more). Keep it to six questions and ask for the avoid line. Draw by department or floor so that gifts do not travel across a building.
- School staff and teachers. A Secret Santa questionnaire for teachers should ask about the staff room, long days and breaks, and a Secret Santa questionnaire for staff of any school should check the school’s gift policy first.
- Shift workers and frontline teams. Ask which shift people work and how much space they have for a gift, and agree a hand-over plan so that nobody misses the reveal.
- Secret Santa for introverts and quiet teams. Ask whether people want to open gifts in private or in front of the group, and let them pick quiet delivery to their desk.
- Funny but work-safe. For a funny Secret Santa questionnaire, add two or three funny Secret Santa questions for work, like “Which snack makes any meeting better?”, and keep every gift kind.
- Sports fans and eco-minded teams. Ask about teams and games, or about reusable gifts and plain packaging. Team gear can cost more, so check the budget.
- Friends and family. Use the friends and family form, which leaves out the desk questions.
Inclusion, HR and Tax Notes
This is general information, not legal advice. Rules differ by state and country, so check with HR or a lawyer before you set a policy.
- Make it voluntary. The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission says employees cannot be required to take part in, or to avoid, a religious activity as a condition of employment. The page does not mention gift exchanges, so we use it only as a reason to keep any holiday activity optional. Not everyone celebrates Christmas, so you can call the event a holiday gift exchange.
- Set a spending cap and keep gifts appropriate. A California employer group suggests a cap and gifts that are suitable for any audience, as a summary of a 2019 podcast. Treat it as common sense, not a rule.
- Think about managers. If a manager takes part, consider a rule that nobody draws their own boss or direct report. This is our suggestion, not a legal requirement.
- Watch the tax rule if the company pays. The IRS says in Publication 15-B that cash and cash equivalents, such as gift cards, are never excludable as a de minimis benefit, while a low-value non-cash holiday gift can be excluded. That applies to gifts an employer provides. A gift exchange where coworkers pay for their own gifts is a different case. Ask payroll or a tax adviser if the company is buying the gifts.
Free Printable Secret Santa Questionnaire
The printable is the answer many people came for, so it is on this page, free, with no email needed. It is a free Secret Santa questionnaire PDF, and also a printable Secret Santa form you can use for any team. The free pack has:
- A short form with 6 questions and 6 quick picks.
- A standard form with 10 questions.
- Question cards (16, one per card) and quick-pick cards (14 this-or-that pairs), for in-person exchanges.
- A rules card with the budget, deadlines and reveal to fill in.
- A from answer to gift sheet and an organizer checklist with a timeline.
It comes as a Letter PDF and an A4 PDF. Everything is in plain English and has no year or date printed on it.
Gift Exchange Kit: Forms, Cards, a Name-Draw Planner and a White Elephant Set
If you organize Secret Santa or a white elephant every year, the Gift Exchange Kit saves the setup. It is a paid upgrade and it is shared with our white elephant gift exchange rules guide. It has:
- An organizer guide (9 pages): choose the format, set the rules, pick one budget, protect privacy, run it remotely, fix common problems and plan a 40-minute reveal.
- 15 ready-to-print questionnaires for different teams, 48 question cards, 14 quick-pick cards and blank pages.
- An Excel planner with a name draw that never gives anyone themselves, an avoid-pairs check, a white elephant turn order, a budget calculator, a timeline and a tracker.
- A white elephant set: round steps, house rules to choose, a rules card, numbered draw slips, a turn tracker and a virtual version.
- 10 editable message templates in Word: invitations, reminders, private draw messages, a one-page optional policy and thank-yous.
- Gift tags, thank-you cards and fun award slips.
Related Guides
- Secret Santa ideas for work: rules, themes and ways to run it.
- White elephant gift exchange rules: the stealing version.
- Christmas gift ideas for coworkers: more ideas by budget.
- Christmas party ideas for work: where to hold the exchange.
Frequently Asked Questions About Secret Santa Questionnaires
What is a Secret Santa questionnaire?
A Secret Santa questionnaire is a short form each person fills in before names are drawn. It tells the person who draws their name what they like, what they would use and what to avoid. It saves guesswork, helps people with allergies or strong preferences and makes gifts feel more personal.
How many questions should a work Secret Santa questionnaire have?
Six to twelve is enough for most workplaces. Short forms get filled in, while long ones get skipped. Use the 5-minute form with 6 questions for large groups or busy teams, the standard form with 10 for most offices and the close team form with 12 only if people already know each other well.
What questions are safe to ask coworkers?
Safe questions are about small, specific tastes and habits: how someone takes their coffee or tea, whether they prefer sweet or salty snacks, what they do on a free Saturday and what small thing would help their workday. Always include one question about anything they would rather not receive.
What should I never ask in a work Secret Santa questionnaire?
Skip anything personal. That means sizes, health, money and family status. It also means religion, politics, age and alcohol. These can make people uncomfortable or invite assumptions. Collect a home address only from remote players who need a gift mailed, privately, and delete it after the exchange.
How do I handle allergies and dietary needs in Secret Santa?
Ask one open question: is there any food or drink you cannot have or would rather not receive, and no reason is needed. If anyone lists something, avoid food for that person unless you can read the full ingredients, and never give homemade food. A non-food gift is always the safest choice.
Does a Secret Santa questionnaire have to be anonymous?
The answers should be private, but the organizer usually needs to know who wrote what in order to match gifts. Collect answers through one private channel, show each gifter only their own person’s form, and delete everything after the exchange. Nobody else on the team needs to see the answers.
Can I use Google Forms or Microsoft Forms for a Secret Santa questionnaire?
Yes, any survey tool works. Copy the questions from the builder and paste them into the form tool your team already uses. What matters is that only the organizer can open the responses. Check the tool’s own settings for who can view answers before you send the link.
What if my Secret Santa person leaves the form blank?
Choose a safe direction with no food, no scent and no size, such as a notebook and pen set, a boxed set of one-size fuzzy socks, a puzzle, low-care desk plants or a mug warmer. The fallback list above links to examples. A small, useful, neutral gift is better than a risky guess.
How do I run Secret Santa for a remote or hybrid team?
Use the remote and hybrid form, ask for shipping addresses privately at least two weeks ahead, and choose one-size gifts. Offer a digital option for people where shipping is slow, and hold a short reveal call or send gifts with a note. Common workplace guides suggest the same two-week address deadline.
Can I require my team to take part in Secret Santa?
Make it voluntary. Not everyone has the money, the time or the wish to take part, and holiday activities can touch on religion. The EEOC says employees cannot be required to take part in, or avoid, a religious activity as a condition of employment. This is general information, not legal advice, so ask HR or a lawyer.
Are gift cards a good idea for a work Secret Santa?
Gift cards are easy to ship, but they can be impersonal, and some groups ban them. If the company pays for gifts, the IRS says cash and cash equivalents such as gift cards are never excludable as a de minimis benefit, so they may be taxable wages. A gift exchange where coworkers pay is different. Check with payroll.
How much should a work Secret Santa gift cost?
Choose one fixed amount your whole team can afford, and say whether wrapping counts. Workplace gift guides commonly suggest somewhere between $10 and $30, but those are retailer blogs, not research. Go lower if salaries vary widely, because a wide range leaves some people spending more than they can comfortably afford.
Sources: U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Religious Discrimination; IRS Publication 15-B, Employer’s Tax Guide to Fringe Benefits; CalChamber, Avoid Secret Santa and Gift Exchange Pitfalls at Work (a 2019 podcast summary, California). Common budget and timing advice comes from workplace gift guides by Elfster and SecretSanta.com, which are retailer blogs. Gift links are Amazon affiliate links; we did not check prices or stock.
Honest limits: the budget range and the timeline are common advice, not research. The tax and religion notes are general information, not legal advice. Listings change, so check each one before you buy.
